Rapid Response: Make mistakes to make progress, w/GM's Gerald Johnson

Inclusion Board

General Motors' Inclusion Advisory Board (IAB) plays a pivotal role in the company's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gerald Johnson emphasizes that the board was established to ensure sustainable actions following the George Floyd incident, aiming for long-term impact rather than temporary measures 1. The IAB is tasked with directing funds towards various diversity efforts, both within GM and in the communities they serve. Johnson notes that the board's work has led to more open discussions on diversity, allowing for greater understanding and intelligent change 2.

The openness in which we discuss diversity in the most broadest sense, whether we're talking, you know, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, you know, all these ideas and perspectives of diversity are now bubbling up.

--- Gerald Johnson

This openness is reflected in employee engagement surveys, which show increased comfort in expressing individuality at work.

   

Embracing Discomfort

Addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requires embracing discomfort, according to Gerald Johnson. He asserts that mistakes are a natural part of progress and that feeling awkward is essential for learning 3. Johnson encourages business leaders to engage in uncomfortable conversations to foster an inclusive environment. GM's vision focuses on creating a crash-free, emission-free, and congestion-free society, rather than being the largest automaker 4.

If you're not making mistakes, you're not making progress. This is supposed to be awkward and uncomfortable.

--- Gerald Johnson

He believes that understanding and addressing exclusion is crucial for building a collaborative workforce.